13 Magical Things to Do in New York at Christmas with Kids

By Caz | January 13, 2018 | This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Read our Disclosure.

It’s the most magical time of the year!

To be honest, I never really get excited about Christmas, nor have found it too magical, until I visited New York for Christmas and New Years Eve in 2004.

We’ve just returned from a two week trip to New York City with the girls, and was wrapped up in the magic of the Christmas spirit again.

Experiencing Christmas in NYC with kids is like having whipped cream on your hot chocolate!

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From tree lighting ceremonies to magical shop window displays, to ice skating to Christmas tunes and Santaland, there are endless magical things to do in New York at Christmas.

This time we traveled a little earlier in the season at the end of November and beginning of December to experience the lead up to Christmas in New York with kids.

Although, visiting just after Thanksgiving brings big crowds, it’s also a wonderful time to visit NYC as it’s when the tree lighting ceremonies start, the Christmas lights and decorations are turned on, and the crazy Thanksgiving sales are still lingering.

1. Ice skating at Bryant Park

All of us at yTravel agree that ice skating in Bryant Park was the most magical Christmas experience in New York.

I think even outside of Christmas and winter, Bryant Park would be one of my favorite New York places to visit. It was the most recommended activity from our community as well.

Bryant Park is this delightful square surrounded by the New York skyscrapers, including an eye catching American Radiator Building, and the New York Public Library.

The American Radiator building’s black and gold facade is striking and makes it one of my favorite buildings in New York. It is now the The Bryant Park Hotel.

During Christmas in NYC, Bryant Park also has the Winter Village, which has the ice skating rink, a giant Christmas tree, and food kiosks.

You can sit on the edge of the rink and watch the kids (after you’ve had fun skating with them) and sip on a hot chocolate or glass of wine and enjoy the Christmas music.

Of an evening they have a live band playing the tunes.

I loved the experience with the girls as they tried ice skating for the first time. It was wonderful to watch Kalyra step out and get it straight away, and for me to spend time with the more cautious Savannah guiding her on the ice and helping her gain the confidence to let go.

It was such a treat to see it when she finally did.

She was scared of falling over but once she did it once and realized it was part of the ice skating experience, and no one else laughing at her, she was happy to fall over and over again.

Kalyra and Savannah were happy to stay on the ice while we watched them from the deck of the Public Fare while meeting up with old friends and getting to know new ones.

They stayed on the ice for three hours and every day after asked if they could go ice skating at Bryant Park again. They did one more time!

If you have your own skates, it is free to skate at Bryant Park, otherwise its a $20 fee to rent the skates, which you can have as long as you like.

I recommend getting to the rink mid-afternoon as it does get very busy after 6pm.

In between the skating, you can also check out the artisan Christmas markets in the open air village selling jewellery, decor, home wares, Christmas gifts and local food and drinks.

I would also have a drink by the fires at Southwest Porch, a spot we didn’t discover until after our meet up! It looks gorgeous and apparently is opened year round.

Bryant Park is only a short walk from Times Square so we recommend skipping the flashing neon light madness there and relaxing amongst the charm of this holiday Oasis.

We booked ours for 3:30pm on a Wednesday and we had a very small line.

Santa’s elves are good at moving it quickly. We returned to Macy’s on the weekend, and the line was ridiculously long. So try to go midweek if you can.

Santaland is a winter wonderland path to Santa Claus’s lap. You’ll feel like you’ve entered the North Pole as you pass by twinkling lights, Santas workshop, and a forest of pine trees to arrive at the throne of the most Santa looking Santa I’ve seen.

He was immaculately groomed and had a warm melodic voice and laugh. I almost believed he was the real deal.

He did request cookies and milk, although I suggested to the girls he might get so sick of it that we best get him something different like a beetroot chocolate cake and red wine.

6. Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and displays

One of the most popular things to do in New York at Christmas is to see the Christmas tree and holiday displays at the Rockefeller Center.

We did not spend much time in this area as the crowds were freaking nuts, especially on weekends! We attempted to visit for the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree, but could not get in.

We only made it to a few streets back from Rockefeller before we were turned away. They had a million people show up. How they fitted in that many people I will never know?

The crowds were so crazy that we lined up for 15 minutes (in a shoulder to shoulder mob) just to cross the street.

It was the same when we returned on the weekend to see the tree and the Christmas lights display at Saks 5th avenue. Abort Mission.

Craig returned mid-week when myself and the girls were at The Lion King. The crowds weren’t as bad and he did get to see the Christmas tree and displays.

The Rockefeller Christmas tree remains lit through the first week of January.

You can also ice skate at Rockefeller Center, but you could have a long wait and it’s the most expensive of the ice skating rinks in New York City. It is also timed.

Seriously, the crowds here are insane, I don’t recommended it.

7. Christmas Display Window Shopping

No trip to New York during Christmas is complete without a little bit of window shopping.

The retail stores, particularly along 5th Avenue (the best shopping street in New York if you have plenty of money), go all out with their Christmas displays.

Saks on Fifth Avenue is the most famous and they knocked it out of the park this Christmas (2017).

Their window displays were all inspired by Snow White in celebration of its 80th anniversary.

On the sides of the building the window displays features Snow White interpretations from some of the world’s most famous designers. The front windows showed scenes from Snow White.

Saks 5th Avenue light display

On the front of the building is an extravagant timed light display which is what everyone attempts to see in the evening. The light display is on every 10 minutes and runs for about 4-5 minutes.

Bergdorf Goodman is another popular one for Christmas displays.

As is the iconic Macy’s, which had interactive things like looking through binoculars for close ups of the minute dolls on display, and playing the piano on the window which made music and the bears move in the window display.

Super magical for the kids.

8. The Ride’s Holiday Experience

Just when you think you’ve seen everything there is in travel, along comes something that is so unique and entertaining – only in New York.

We finished our holiday in New York with the super fun The Ride Experience. You can do The Ride at any time of the year, but from November to early January, The Ride is a Christmas holiday experience.

The Ride is a motor coach decked out with theater seats, floor-to-ceiling windows and flashing lights that takes you around the city so you can witness New York City’s holiday festivities and cheer and live street performers.

It’s hosted by two New York City experts and entertainers and is a high energy fun experience.

We loved it, especially the rapper who was ad libbing with random strangers passing him on the street. Super cool.

9. Experience the Snow

Okay, so this one you have no control over. It snowed when we visited in 2004 and it snowed on our last day of this visit to New York City with the girls.

They were delighted and wanted to spend the entire day gathering snow from the ground to throw at us.

It was their first time experiencing snow (well that Kalyra can remember) and it made New York even more magical for them.

If it snows, we recommend getting out to Central Park to witness the ethereal beauty of it.

We had a full day of tours booked so couldn’t get to Central Park, but we thought the 911 Memorial was really beautiful dusted in snow.

We also had lunch with friends in Murray Hill and loved watching the snow fall out the window.

And then walking around it with snowflakes falling everywhere was really cool until it melted and you ended up really cold and wet.

More Christmas Holiday in NYC tips

Even though we had two weeks in New York, we still did not have time to see and do everything. You always have to leave room for later right?

Our community is the best. They always give us amazing tips on things to do in a region so we trust the following recommendations we had from them to experience Christmas in New York with kids.

Here are some of their don’t miss New York at Christmas experiences.

10. Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes

The Rockettes is a famous show in New York featuring high kicking dancers in the iconic Radio City Music Hall.

The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular is a New York City musical tradition. Grab your tickets here. You may also find cheaper tickets once in New York. I saw dancers handing out coupons on the street.

11. Rolf’s Bar and Restuarant

Many people recommended Rolf’s Bar and Restaurant on 22nd and 3rd as a place to eat at Christmas due to its elaborate Christmas decoration and light display.

It’s meant to be a New York institution with great German food and schnapps to match! That’s the kind of Christmas spirit we love. Check out reviews here.

12. New York Botanical Gardens train show

During the Christmas holiday season the New York Botanical Garden lights up with its collection of enchanting model trains that chug along a nearly half-mile track by 150 miniature NYC landmarks like the Empire State Building and Radio City Music Hall, all made of natural materials such as leaves, twigs, bark and berries. Get your tickets here.

13. Dkyker Heights Christmas lights

Take a trip out to Brooklyn to visit the famous Christmas lights of Dkyker Heights.

It’s a great opportunity to see how the locals dress up their homes for Christmas. It’s meant to be over the top with inflatable Santas, Christmas carols and mind glowing light displays. Over 100,000 people visit each year!

Each year, over 100,000 people flock to the Brooklyn nabe to witness some of the most over-the-top Christmas lights we’ve ever seen­—think huge inflatable Santas and snowmen, and houses that blast Christmas carols from loundspeakers.

There is a lot of ground to cover, as many houses in the area participate over multiple blocks and avenues.

If you’re traveling by subway, take the D Train to 71st St, Brooklyn. You’ll then have a 15 minute walk to the homes which are spread over multiple blocks and avenues. (take your coat!!)

Many attractions are open on Christmas Day so it might be the best day to visit to avoid long queues. Make sure you do it with am attractions pass. We’ll have a post soon showcasing the value of them. The two you can choose from are:

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About Caz

Caroline Makepeace is the co-founder of yTravel Blog. She loves helping people unplug from the chaos, follow their bliss, travel more and create better memories. She has a free travel planning toolkit to help you do just that!

Caz is the flighty Libran, bringing harmony to the family through crystals, meditation, and downward dogs (and the odd glass of wine at 5pm). It's all about the balance, right? Follow her on Instagram.

The Christmas lights in NYC are just amazing, and I love those fancy department stores and all their decorations.. I used to live near NYC as a kid and we’d take the train into the city…excellent memories of what I think is one of the coolest cities in the world. Definitely a place to experience at the holidays with kids.

I loved your article. We have just booked for 3 weeks in New York from the 29th November 2018. I know its early planning! Your article has given me so much inspiration. Although my two girls are older (16 & 14) than your two, I’m sure many of these experiences as great for children of any age. We were thinking of splitting our accommdation to cover two different areas. Thoughts?

You could do that although Manhattan is super easy to get around so it doesn’t really matter where you stay unless you wanted to stay and experience one of the Boroughs. We stayed in Brooklyn for awhile but we were always coming back into Manhattan anyway. I’d see what kind of deals you can get. Sometimes it’s cheaper and less hassle to stay in the one hotel.

This is great. We are headed to NYC dec 14-20 this year. I want to do so many things but many take standing in line and dealing with crowds. I’m not a big fan of that. You give some great alternatives. Thank you.